NCAA champion College of South Carolina ladies's basketball coach Daybreak Staley drew criticism on social media after expressing assist for male trans-identified athletes who wish to compete in ladies's sports activities.
Staley, who led the Gamecocks to a championship victory Sunday and received three championships since she was employed to guide this system in 2008, has made a reputation for herself as an outspoken Christian who isn't afraid to let others know her beliefs.
Regardless of her open confession of religion, she drew on-line ire from Christian conservatives and ladies's sports activities advocates on Saturday, the day earlier than the NCAA Division I championship recreation. Through the press convention, she was requested for her opinion on the continuing debate concerning the inclusion of male trans-identified athletes in ladies's sports activities.
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In response to a query, Staley, 53, mentioned she believed male trans-identified athletes ought to be capable of compete towards ladies so long as the athletes “establish” as ladies.
“In the event you're a girl, you need to play,” Staley mentioned. “In the event you take into account your self a girl, … you need to be capable of play.”
South Carolina Ladies's Coach @dawnstaley he says that males who fake to be ladies ought to be capable of play ladies's basketball. Nice query from @RealDanZak. That is what actual reporters are purported to do. Ask actual questions, get actual solutions. pic.twitter.com/Kf9WKk6ylm
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 6, 2024
The coach responded to a follow-up query from the identical reporter: “That's the query you wish to ask. So I'll offer you a sure.”
“So now I'm going to be flooded with a barn of individuals. [social media] timeline to distract me on one of many greatest days of our recreation,” she continued. “And I'm advantageous with that.”
Brandon Showalter, an opinion author and social commentator for The Christian Put up and host of the documentary podcast collection “Technology Indoctrination,” mentioned that when “athletic coaches repeat gender dogma like 'take into account your self a girl,' it reveals how deep this ideology entrenched. to occur throughout tradition, together with sports activities, is disappointing however not shocking.”
“Probably, Staley is both afraid of being fired if she criticizes transgender ideology — not an irrational worry — or she genuinely believes that some males are literally ladies simply because males say so,” he added. Showalter, co-author Exposing the gender liehe mentioned.
“No matter they suppose, it's an insult to ladies to permit males to play sports activities, and it's harmful given the aggressive benefits males have over ladies as a result of many bodily variations in energy and pace.”
Denny Burk, affiliate professor of biblical research at Boyce Faculty, an undergraduate affiliate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, referred to as the coach's feedback “disgraceful.” post on X
In response to Burke's put up, Christian feminist Kaeley Triller Harms, co-founder of the ladies's coalition Fingers Throughout the Aisle, he remarked: “She didn't say they need to be allowed to play towards ladies, however I agree that was a weak response.”
Journalist and media character Megyn Kelly, who hosts her personal present on SiriusXM, referred to as Staley's feedback about trans athletes “appalling.”
“Nice query. Horrible reply,” Kelly he wrote at X. “And this coach makes her neglect of twd justice and ladies's security all about HER.” Oh boo hoo she shall be criticized. Yeah, we get offended when ladies/ladies are threatened by the social justice warriors who’re purported to PROTECT them.”
South Carolina Republican Invoice Taylor shared his disgust with Staley's remarks within the X post. Taylor famous that South Carolina handed a legislation in 2022 banning organic males from taking part in in ladies's sporting occasions.
“Daybreak Staley's controversial reply to the query makes me surprise if she needs to interrupt the legislation,” Taylor wrote. “When requested if 'transgender ladies ought to be allowed to take part in ladies's school basketball,' Staley mentioned, 'Sure'. Hey Daybreak, the SC legislature banned trans sports activities 2 years in the past!”
South Carolina state consultant Adam Morgan, who’s working for US Congress, referred to as Staley's feedback “embarrassing ideology”.
“Our @UofSC ladies's basketball coach @dawnstaley says organic males ought to be allowed to play ladies's sports activities,” Morgan he tweeted. “Our tax {dollars} shouldn’t be funding folks and applications selling these embarrassing ideologies which are opposite to SC values.”
Political commentator Robby Starbuck says Staley “deserves each little bit of criticism” for what he calls “craziness”.
“South Carolina ladies's basketball coach Daybreak Staley says she helps males taking part in towards ladies in the event that they establish as a girl,” he wrote. “Keen to wager among the ladies on her crew don't approve.”
Nicole VanDyke is a reporter for The Christian Put up.
